08-29-1977 Minutes1
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City of Salina, Kansas
Regular Meeting of the
Board of Commissioners
August 29, 1977
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners met in the Commissionelrs'
Room, City -County Building, on Monday, August 29, 1977, at four o'clock p.m.
The Mayor asked everyone to stand for the pledge of allegiance to the
Flag and a moment of silent prayer.
There were present:
Mayor Keith G. Duckers, Chairman presiding
Commissioner Dan S. Geis
Commissioner Karen M. Graves
Commissioner Gerald F. Simpson
Commissioner Jack Weisgerber
comprising a quorum of the Board, also:
L. 0. Bengtson, City Attorney
Dorris D. Olson, City Manager
M. E. Abbott, Acting City Clerk
Absent:
D. L. Harrison, City Clerk
printed. The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 22, 1977 were approved as
THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED the months of September and October, 1977 -
"UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN MONTHS" and August 31, 1977 - "UNITED WAY POSTER DAY". The
proclamation was read by Russ Norwood.
THE MAYOR PROCLAIMED the Week of September 11 through 17, 1977 -
''DEAF AWARENESS WEEK". The proclamation was read by Eugene Burns, President of
the Kansas Parents Association for Hearing Impaired Children.
STAFF AGENDA
BIDS WERE RECEIVED for Engineering Project 77-619 for water and sewer
improvements in Hocking Addition:
Smoky Hill, Inc. $177,179.00
Commence December 1, 1977 and require 180 calendar days
Stevens Contractors, Inc. 188,294.00
Commence December 1, 1977 and require 200 calendar days
Wilson Constructors, Inc. 199,96o.00
No date specified to commence and complete work
Engineer's Estimate 163,335.00
A motion was made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner
Geis to reject all bids as they all exceed the Engineer's Estimate, and to
instruct the City Clerk to advertise for bids to be received September 12, 1977.
Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
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BIDS WERE RECEIVED for Engineering Project 77-625 for street and
utility improvements in Oakdale, Wallerius and Nord Additions:
Part I
Water and Sanitary Sewer Improvements
Stevens Contractors, Inc. $34,192.50
Commence November 15, 1977 and require 90 calendar days
Wilson Constructors, Inc. 34,645.00
Commence October 1, 1977 and require 360 calendar days
Smoky Hill, Inc. 39,732.50
Commence December 1, 1977 and require 180 calendar days
Earth Excavation, Inc. 40,060.00
Commence January 9, 1978 and require 250 calendar days
Engineer's Estimate 35,500.00
Part II
Storm Sewer and Pavement Improvements
(Asphaltic Pavement Alternate)
Brown & Brown, Inc. $69,864.00
Commence October 1, 1977 and require 180 calendar days
after the completion of Part I
Engineer's Estimate 77,565.00
Part II
Storm Sewer and Pavement Improvements
(Concrete Pavement Alternate)
J. S. Frank Construction Company, Inc. $69,363.00
Commence September 26, 1977 and require 180 calendar days
Wilson Constructors, Inc. 74,970.00
Commence October 1, 1977 and require 360 calendar days
Engineer's Estimate 77,565.00
A motion was made by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner
Graves to award the contract for Part I to Stevens Contractors, Inc., as the
low bidder in the amount of $34,192.50; and to award the contract for Part II to
J. S. Frank Construction Company, Inc., as the low bidder for the concrete
pavement alternate, in the amount of $69,363.00, subject to approval by the City
Engineer. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: ''AN ORDINANCE
levying special assessments on lots, pieces and parcels of ground in the City of
Salina, Kansas, for the purpose of paying a portion of the cost of:
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of EDWARD STREET
from Bret Avenue to Hartland Avenue
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of COLONIAL LANE
from Post Oak Lane to Edward Street
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of POST OAK LANE
from Linda Lane to Bret Avenue
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of LINDA LANE
from Neal Avenue to Post Oak Lane
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of COLONIAL COURT
from Colonial Lane to cul-de-sac
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of CONONIAL PLACE
from Colonial Lane to cul-de-sac
Water main and services for certain lots in Twin Oaks
Subdivision
Lateral Sanitary Sewers 536, 537, 538, 539, 540, 541
Storm Sewer System
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Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of SCOTT AVENUE
from the north line of Lot 25, Block 36, to the south
line of Lot 1, Block 37, Key Acres 2nd Addition
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of RAY AVENUE
from the north line of Lot 14, Block 36, to the south
line of Lot 14, Block 37, Key Acres 2nd Addition
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of LAURA STREET
from Scott Avenue to Ray Avenue
Water main and services for certain lots in Key Acres
2nd Addition
Lateral Sanitary Sewers 543 and 544
Storm Sewer System
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of FAWN STREET
from Cloud Street to Schippel Drive
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of SCHIPPEL DRIVE
from Lewis Street to Ohio Street
Water main and services for certain lots in Schippel
Addition
Lateral Sanitary Sewer 545
Storm Sewer System
Water main and services to serve the North 483 feet of
Lot 1, Block 1, Sullivan Addition and the South 1,405 feet
of the NE 1/4 of Section 35, Township 14 South, Range 3 West
of the 6th Principal Meridian, lying east of 1-35-W
Lateral Sanitary Sewer 547."
(Engineering Project 76-601)
A motion was made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner Weisgerber
to adopt tin ordinance as read and the following vote was had: Ayes: Graves,
Simpson, Weisgerber, Geis, Duckers (5). Nays: (0). Carried. The Mayor approved
the Ordinance and it is numbered 8595• The ordinance was introduced for first
reading August 22, 1977.
AN ORDINANCE was introduced for second reading entitled: ''AN ORDINANCE
levying special assessments on lots, pieces and parcels of ground in the City of
Salina, Kansas for the purpose of paying a portion of the cost of:
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of VICTORIA HEIGHTS
DRIVE
Curbing, guttering, paving and grading of VICTORIA HEIGHTS
TERRACE
Water main and services
Lateral Sanitary Sewer 557•"
(Engineering Project 77-613)
A motion was made by Commissioner Graves, seconded by Commissioner Weisgerber to
adopt the ordinance as read and the following vote was had: Ayes: Graves,
Simpson, Weisgerber, Geis, Duckers (5). Nays: (0). Carried. The Mayor approved
the ordinance and it is numbered 8596. The ordinance was introduced for first
reading August 22, 1977.
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THE CITY ENGINEER reported on Petition Number 3655 which was filed by
George Etherington for street, water and sewer improvements for certain lots in
Dow Addition and in the Replat of part of Dow Addition, that the petition is
signed by 50% of the owners who own 55% of the property within the benefit
district, that there are no unpaid taxes on the property within the benefit
district owned by the petitioner, and that it is a valid petition. A motion was
made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner Geis to accept the City
Engineer's report and approve the petition. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion
carried.
THE CITY ENGINEER reported on a City Commission directive that consulti
firms be contacted to consider study of the old river channel and that the cost
estimates be brought back to the Commission by August 29, 1977.
The City Engineer reported, "Following the procedure suggested in my
memo to you dated August 18, 1977, 1 contacted three local firms who I feel have
the expertise required to undertake this study. The firms contacted were:
Wilson & Company Engineers & Architects, White, Hunsley and Associates, and
Bucher & Willis Consulting Engineers, Planners & Architects.
"There was a wide variation in responses to this initial contact, with
no firm willing to submit a proposal in regard to the cost of the study. I
think everyone involved understands the engineering complexities involved in
such a study as well as the consultants reluctance to put a price on such an
engineering project, believing that selection should be based on qualifications
only.
"I think the proper approach to our problem would be to follow your
(Mr. Olson's) suggestion on August 8 (Commission Meeting) and invite these firms
in for interviews with the City Commissioners. These interviews would provide
an opportunity for the Commissioners, staff and consultant to jointly discuss
the parameters and complexities of this project. It could also provide additional'
ideas or suggestions that may be desirable to include in a contract document."
The Commissioners and staff discussed the recommendation and possible
funding for a study. They asked the President of the Chamber of Commerce and
chairman of the subcommittee to sit in on interviews with the consulting firms.
Mr. White replied they would be happy to sit in on the inverviews.
A motion was made by Commissioner Graves, seconded by Commissioner
Weisgerber to proceed with setting up interviews with local firms who have
expertise in hydraulics. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
PUBLIC AGENDA
ROBERT RIORDAN, presented a report by the Energy Usage Commission. He 11
said one of the big things of looking at energy usage is the need for education
and publicity, that we need to get the word out to people of what is going on, !'
and what could be done. The second thing is that any energy management program
requires the support of the local, state or federal government, whichever
government entity it is, without which nothing is going to happen. He said the
Commission came up with some different goals, or things it wanted to accomplish:
1. A local energy office, through an existing office or a new office, to have
some coordinating point. He commended the City of Salina for the work it is
already doing. 2. To get started appointing a citizens' advisory group or task
force, and sub -task force to look into other areas of energy. 3. Appoint a
coordinator and establish a means of collecting accurate data. The Commission
gave this a very high priority, and put heavy emphasis in the program of education
4. To keep energy matters in mind when making decisions. 5. He presented a
copy of Local Energy Management Program prepared by the Federal Energy Administrati
and recommended the City use it as a guideline on many different projects.
He said the rest of the report is a number of suggested short and long
term strategies. He said an application has been filed with the FEA for a small
grant to help fund some of the program, so we don't have to do it all on a
shoestring.
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Mayor Duckers thanked the Energy Usage Commission for their good work
and excellent report.
A motion was made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner
Graves to accept the report of the Energy Usage Commission with heartfelt thanks
and deep appreciation to all members of that commission and let you know it will
not rest here. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
Sharon Denton, President of the League of Women Voters of Salina,
Kansas, Inc., presented a recently completed Parks and Recreation Study.
Sharon Denton - I have information here for your files. I trust it
won't be the round files, and this is a copy of our position and also kind of a
little background information that we prepared as part of the studying that we
have done. I am Sheri Denton, President of the League of Women Voters of
Salina, and the League has just completed a year long study of parks and recreatioh
programs and facilities in our community and our League of Women Voters members
have adopted a position that we would like to share with our community leaders.
We recognize that effective park and recreation programs are a proper responsibililty
of local government. We found it almost impossible to clearly define the line
between parks and recreation because they overlap in many areas. But, in Salina,
as you know, parks are under the jurisdiction of the City Commission while
recreation programs are under the authority of the Salina Recreation Commission;
therefore we believe that close cooperation and communication between the City
Commission and the Recreation Commission is essential in order to provide the
best possible service to the entire community. USD 305 and the Salina Recreation
Commission also exchange facilities and services and we commend them for their
existing policy of cooperation and communication. Regular communication and
cooperation among the administration and boards of the City of Salina, the
Salina Recreation Commission, USD 305, and Saline County is essential to insure
improved programs and facilities and to avoid duplication of services and equipment.
All share a common constituancy and should be aware of their mutual dependency
and responsibilities. We believe that the City Commission should establish a
citizens advisory park board to do the comprehensive, long-range planning for
city parks. Such a board would provide a planning apparatus for the location I
and acquisition of park and recreation areas, study the budget, make recommendatiohs
for improvement of existing parks, and development of new ones. A board would
provide an acceptable avenue for citizen input and participation in the decision
making process and for governmental accountability; neither of which exist under
the present system. Our resource committee wrote to 14 different cities in
Kansas regarding their structure and organization of park commissions or park
departments and their relationship to recreation commissions. We received 13
replies from cities including Manhattan, Leavenworth, Winfield, Garden City, El
Dorado, McPherson, Wichita, Emporia, Pittsburgh, Hays, Great Bend, Hutchinson
and Leavenworth. And in case you counted the only one who didn't reply was
Topeka and I think their form of government is quite different than ours and so
we felt that probably we hadn't lost just an awfully lot by not hearing from
them. Most cities do have a set up similar to Salina, with the exception of
Leavenworth and Wichita. Leavenworth and Wichita have the following structure:
Leavenworth is a town of approximately 40,000 population. Their park division
is a division of the Recreation and Park Department. The daily operation of the
park division is the responsibility of the director of recreation and parks.
The director is responsible to the City Manager who receives direction to the
City Commission. Recreation and park advisory committee, which is composed of 7
members appointed at large by the City Commission serves the professional staff
in an advisory capacity. There is no separate recreation commission, it was
abolished by city ordinance in 1973 and now there is a recreation division
within the recreation and park department. This is Leavenworth. Wichita is
different from Leavenworth and different from Salina too. In Wichita there is a
board of park commissioners. It was created under the terms of the Code of the
City of Wichita which required a special State Statute. This board is semi-
autonomous. Members are appointed by the Mayor with the consent and approval of
City Commissioners. There is no advisory board. There is no separate recreation
commission. Recreation is one division of the board or commissioners. We did
find that many of the cities replying had a park advisory board. Their
responsibilities were all similar, make recommendations to the city manager and
city commission on park acquisition, planning, improvements, policy, and in
Lawrence they prepared a capital improvements budget. Appointment of the advisor
board is made by the Mayor and City Commission and we do have on file all of the
letters in the survey forms if you do have further questions to this inquiry
that we made that gives you all the information on all the cities. We thought
it might be helpful to you if you would like to have it, I think we can
(unintelligible). In addition to a park board we feel that the park supervisory
personnel should be well qualified in parks management. Salina needs more
parks, especially South Salina. Some of the parks that we have are exceptionally
beautiful and well tended; but we need more playgrounds, and picnic facilities,
more tennis courts, another swimming pool. Some parks are located in undesirable
locations, especially some on North Broadway, and some developed ones are over
crowded. Rest rooms, when available, are in poor condition. We need to implemen
a long term acquisition and development plan for parks and neighborhood centers.
We believe that programming of recreation should be the responsibility of the
Salina Recreation Commission. Our community provides adequate, safe, inexpensive
opportunities and facilities for leisure activities for children, the elderly,
the handicapped, and for most adults, but we need more programs and facilities
for teenagers, more tot lots for very young children. It is our hope that the
new Memorial Hall center will meet some of the existing needs. This city also
needs a recreation center. We support the development of a linear park along
the banks of the Smoky Hill River. We support the adoption and implementation
of a plan for a comprehensive bikeway system for Salina to provide for and to
encourage the safe and efficient use of bicycles as a means for transportation
and recreation, and we commend you, the City Commission, for appointing a committ e
to develop a bikeway plan and we pledge our support to it. Finally the League
of Women Voters members felt that there had been too many park and recreation
studies which have been unheeded. I brought along, not to read but to show you,
first of all in the early 1960's the Salina League of Women voters did a study
and passed our findings on to the city. In addition to recommending a park
board and combining parks and recreation departments, we recommended, as one of
many small suggestions, that the lot at Broadway and Pawnee be made into a tot
lot. All of our recommendations got lost along the way. None was ever carried j
out. Now this comprehensive study right here, the big fat one, with a little
summary on the top of it was made by Bucher and Willis in 1972. It contains
many recommendations for parks, and interestingly enough, one of those suggestion
is to create a tot lot at Broadway and Pawnee. Now, in 1964 Wilson and Company,
did this capital improvements program and I have a xerox of the part of this
that relates to parks and recreation. This was a pretty comprehensive study.
It analyzed the adequacy of Salina's park system and it made a general guide to
be followed for the next 20 years which would mean that it should be reasonable
through 1984. It inventoried the existing parks and recreation programs and
facilities. It established specific standards. We related these standards to
our existing facilities and formulated a plan which was designed to serve the
population growth during the 20 year period. It indicated the size, location
and general function of the proposed facilities. The study recommended that
Salina have 800 acres of parkland. It suggests utilizing the 43 acres of school
playground and urges the joint use of school sites and playgrounds to avoid the
duplication of facilities. This study, incidentally, is the one that recommendedi
creating the municipal golf course at the old airport, which I think is one of
the few things that was in the study that actually got accomplished. It proposes
two major hike and bike trails, one along the slough and the other along the I
Smoky Hill River with nature trails as well. It set priorities and it contains
a plan for implementation. It suggested adopting a park plan and had joint
negotiations with the school board to seek areas where they could cooperate to
provide adequately sized neighborhood parks and school sites and suggested the
city and USD 305 institute methods for joint acquisition, improvement and
maintenance of these areas. It recommended as part of the land subdivision plan
that land be reserved for appropriate school and park sites. Only three years
later, in 1967, the City commissioned Bucher & Willis to do another park study.
They did virtually the same thing. They came to virtually the same conclusion,
and I believe this is the short form and this is the long form of the '67
study. This plan was never implemented. Then there was a study by the Board
of Realtors about the possibility of parks along the river section of the City.
Another study by the Corps of Engineers on the same subject. Then there was a
Chamber of Commerce study which resulted in their Oakdale Park efforts. There
is a river beautification speech by the Bicentennial Commission which requested j
park improvement. Then as a part of our planning commission work on the land
use policies by Oblinger and Smith, there were a number of suggestions for park
recommendations for the city and the county. The North Salina Redevelopment
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Association made a study of park needs in North Salina. It was submitted to the
City Commission but little has been done with it. Finally here is the KCCD
Youth survey which again has a multitude of suggestions for Salina's park and
recreation needs. These suggestions came from the youth of our community. If
the city does undertake a new study we feel it should include not only a study
of the existing parks and facilities and the projected needs, but a study of the
administration of the parks department as well, and most important we feel you
City Commissioners should make a firm commitment to carry out such a plan once
it has been adopted. In conclusion, the League of Women Voters requests that
you, the City Commission,take prompt action to insure governmental cooperation
and communication between Saline County, USD 305, the Salina Recreation Commissi
and the Parks Department, and that you create a citizen's park advisory board
for the Parks Department. Thank you very much.''
Mayor Duckers Thank you, Sharon.
Sharon Denton - I would entertain questions, if you have any. I will
see that you get a copy of this on the survey of the cities. But if there is
anything further that we could do, we would be most happy to. We are extremely
anxious to see some action on this.
Commissioner Simpson - That is an excellent report. Do you feel we
have enough data available and suggestions and plans gathered over the years to
proceed with a comprehensive park plan without getting another one ordered out?
Sharon Denton - I really think that you do. I think with a little
plumping up in the planning department I think you could come up with more
suggestions than you know what to do with. Basically, the problem is that because
none of these plans have been implemented we have not accomplished to even the
population projected to now. Say a 1964 study projected for 20 years, we are
not through with the projections, but we haven't even done say what you would
normally assume would have been accomplished if the plan had been followed, so
obviously we are going to get the same suggestions, more tot lots, more neighborh
facilities, this sort of thing. (unintelligible)
Commissioner Simpson - Well portions, perhaps not one, not a plan has
been adopted and followed through. I think probably portions of each plan along
the way perhaps has been implemented. You mentioned, you know, the golf course
and the recommendation of the ball parks in Lower Indian Rock, and the acquisiti
of the ground in South Salina for an additional park ...
Sharon Denton - I would say that you know we need to follow through in
development. We notice in, we did a photo survey of the parks and we noted that
a rather sizeable portion of the land that is designated for parkland does not
have even the most rudimentary development on it that would really enable it to
be used adequately. I mean I suppose it is fun to sit on the blanket to picnic,
but I think generally people do like tables and a place to build a fire.
Commissioner Simpson - In light of the concern of energy and the
Energy Commission's report, do any of your feelings change as far as, you know,
fragmenting parks throughout the community where you have to move maintenance
people and maintenance equipment around and take care of various little small
parks or is it better to concentrate parks in geographic areas? Do you have
any ...
Sharon Denton - I think we feel like we need both kinds and I think
you can look at it from the energy standpoint in another way. Think of all the
energy that is exerted every time folks have to drag their kids to the park. We
need little neighborhood parks where children can play and where mothers can
take their toddlers to play without getting into the car. At this present
moment, I live in South Salina, and there is no place where there is swings, a
sandbox, any sort of thing that a young child would be able to do without my
getting in the car and driving for approximately 10 minutes. Now that is an
energy waste.
Commissioner Simpson - Yeah.
or you are studying at the present time
you addressing public lands and that?
What is it, aren't there on new subdivisiIns
new subdivision requirements. How are
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Keith Rawlings - Well we're, the proposal that was submitted to us
that we are going over right now asks that up to the full 10% of land subdivided
be dedicated to the city for park purposes. We are probably more involved at
this point in negotiating down the percentages and determining just what is
needed than we are yet involved in discussing the merits of that requirement,
although I think that is going to be one of the more controversial items in the
regulations.
Sharon Denton - May I speak to something on that? I think the League
would favor, in addition to actual land dedicated in subdivisions, we would
favor money in lieu of land because occasionally it works out better to just
apply this money to the development of existing parks or that part of the money
could be used in the developing regional park, depending upon the size of the
subdivision. If it is a very small subdivision, this 10% or 5%, or whatever, is
not going to even be large enough for a neighborhood tot lot. We feel that it
would be much better, in that case, to take the money in lieu of land and then
purchase a suitable area at the center of several of these small subdivisions so
we would really get a decent area instead of these odd corners that we have in
our park system at the present.
Keith Rawlings s - Land dedication, that is also part of the proposal
that is being studied, although any money that is accepted in lieu of the land
will be reserved only for, as it presently stands, neighborhood type parks and
no major facilities whatsoever; so I think, I really think I would agree that
you need to have one with the other rather than just one or the other if we are
going to get into it at all.
Commissioner Graves - It hasn't been very long ago that this commission,
you know, recommended as you know a new park and recreation study. We had
thought at first to just parks. Have parks and recreation, the total needs been
studied? I mean have been addressed in those studies before, or just .. parks?
Sharon Denton - I think it kind of depends on the (unintelligible).
We found as we were studying, we studied them together, we found that they are
quite interrelated. In a number of cities, the city will provide the park land
and the buildings and recreation program or division would provide the programs
in it, and they are so interrelated that it is really, you know, it is almost
impossible to ask questions about one without finding out about the other, and I
think this is somewhat true of these other studies. I think they may relate
more to how much land area are we going to need to be playing all these games
that you have passive red scarves? Recreation and this sort of thing. So,
think it has been fairly adequately addressed.
Commissioner Graves - I guess I still think that we need some kind of
an update, and we need to follow through. I think, you know, this commission is
really, I feel, just from talks we have had, dedicated to the idea that we are
going to follow through with what we find out, but to my way of thinking, since
that last '67 study, people's leisure needs have changed, people are now jogging,
they are exercising more, they are bicycling more, passive, and the energy
question has come up. Of course the ball diamond issue has been addressed.
Lakewood Park has been developed. The housing patterns in Salina have shifted
somewhat, you know, South Salina obviously is just crying for some kind of a
development, a park developed out there, maybe with a year-round use, a pool for
year-round use, instead of just a summer time use pool, and I think our thinking
was that maybe it had become an emotionally charged subject in the city, the
idea of parks and recreation, and perhaps merging and having a park board and so
forth, and that maybe we needed to go kind of outside and bring in some non -
biased or some group that didn't have preconceived ideas as to what was wrong or
1 something like that; but I would hate to have us go off and get a big study and
then sit on it and do nothing for another ten years.
Mayor Duckers - Which is apparently what has been done.
C®mmissioner Graves - Yeah.
Commissioner Geis - Sheri, what is the last time, what is the most
recent study that you cited there? Was there a 1972?
Sharon Denton - There is a 1972.
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Commissioner Geis - Things haven't changed all that much. You know I
am afraid what we are going to do is interview and hire somebody that is going
to come in, and they are going to duplicate the effort of the League of Women
Voters again, and we're going to just chalk one more stack of things up. I, the
League conducted an excellent survey of the basic desire of the community last
Spring with that random sampling and I know I have a copy of it and I think the
other Commissioners. Have you seen it?
Commissioner Simpson - I haven't, no, I have not seen a copy of it.
Sharon Denton - I believe the League sent you one. We hand delivered
them, in fact, I think to you. Everybody should have gotten one.
Commissioner Geis - Really, I think if we go into any more of these
studies, I agree with Karen, that I would like to see us follow through with
something, but I just question the need of an additional study with everything
that we have at this point.
Commissioner Simpson - I would concur with that.
Commissioner Graves - Have you already written to those firms?
Commissioner Geis - I would like to see us just go through and start
doing some of this stuff.
Commissioner Graves - Just a week ago we instructed Norris to write to
firms, and he wrote 40 letters.
Commissioner Geis - Well, we have lost the postage and the time, but
I, you know, I would like to see us go with the park board, and (unintelligible)
Commissioner Simpson - Well, I'd, yeah the autonomy of a park and
recreation department, now you are speaking of a separate taxing authority? Or
how are you going to fund the ...
Sharon Denton - Our short term goal, really, is to get a citizen
advisory board for the park department. A long range goal of an autonomous or
semi -autonomous park and recreation board,l think,would require some state
enabling legislation. It probably would depend on what we could get through the
state and then through a city charter ordinance. I would suspect that it might
be a, receive its money through the city, which perhaps would be one reason why
we feel it could be a very long term goal because we would then loose the
taxing ability of the recreation commission through USD 305, so (unintelligible).
If we combined the two together we would be talking about revenue loss where
picked up in the city benefits, so this is why we are saying long term combining
these would make a lot of practical sense, but we think a lot of this can be
accomplished with a citizens advisory park board and a good deal of very close
cooperation and discussion so that we don't duplicate services and facilities.
Commissioner Weisgerber - We were talking about the reports of a long
time gone by, that were not implemented. Well let's really be a little bit fair
to the administration of the past, because at this point in time it might be
easy to sit here and say well they got the report but they didn't do anything,
but remember all of these things cost money, and you watch these budgets come up
year after year and there are many reports, and many things that you would like
to do, but Kansas has a tax lid law, public resistance to higher taxes, everything'
takes money, and that could well be some of the reasons, not only the parks and
recreation program, I am thinking beyond that, but a number of items that
zontinually come up well there was a report on this in '60 this or whatever and
iothing was done about it, when it may well have been financial and money. If
Ne had an unlimited supply of that it would be a wonderful thing, but you don't
lave. I do think however in this park area that if we do this correctly so far
3s the capital part of it is concerned, we can issue some bonds without the
iecessity of an elections so I think we have some leawa ithis s particular
area, but I think a commission like this is always in the position of wanting to
Jo so many things and yet they have to weigh, have we got the money to do it? A
little like the river, is the money there? It just may flat out not be there.
;152)
Sharon Denton - I might just say on this instance of financing. I
think most of these were like a 20 year program, and I don't mean to come in and
condemn. I know there is a problem with money, but I think that we have to
realize that in anything of long term capital improvements, that we have to add
a little bit in each year or we get caught down at the end of the line where
everybody is crying for so much that then we really are talking about so much
money, the League felt a little bit of concern in noting that although the park
land that we have at present is something line 5.4% of the acreage of the city,
in the city budget to care for these parks and to improve them it is only .05%
and we felt this kind of indicated a low priority.
Mr. Olson - .05 what, would you repeat that?
Sharon Denton - .05% of the city budget is devoted to taking care of
5.4% of the city acreage.
Mr. Olson - Oh, well, that is not .. are you talking about bond debt
and totals?
Sharon Denton - No, this is just, you know, maintenance and administrat
Mr. Olson - from the General Fund?
Sharon Denton - uh huh.
Commissioner Simpson - $185,275.?
Sharon Denton - I think the figures are correct.
Commissioner Graves - I think the point is that we heard loud and
clear during the campaign and during the surveys that have been taken that
recreation has moved up, where ever it was in the last 20 years, it has moved
steadily upward on the ladder and I think that we all are very much aware of
that and extremely grateful for your report. I think probably what we have to
think about is now do we want to go ahead with that outside study or, I haven't
had a chance to read this, and I would like to go through all of that and see
how specific you are getting. Maybe we don't need, maybe we can save $10,000 or
whatever it is it takes an outside consultant, you know, to come in and tell us,
maybe this is it right here; but I haven't had a chance to really digest it
myself.
Commissioner Geis - as Jack mentioned on the park bonds, we could
apparently acquire what $200,000 just by the end of this year. We could go
$100,000 in December and another $100,000 in January.
Commissioner Graves - We ought to do that.
Commissioner Geis - Larry mentioned that we could maybe charter ourselys
out of that, and (unintelligible) ...
Commissioner Simpson - ...increase that, I think we need to increase
it, yes, change the limits. Increase the limits on those park bonds by charter
ordinance.
Commissioner Weisgerber - We have been down to $100,000, change it to
say $250,000 and by charter ordinance and get it done so we can issue $250,000
bonds this year, then we are also clear for next year.
Commissioner Geis - Why don't we start doing some of that.
Mr. Olson - That ordinance is prepared, if you want it on first readin
a week from Monday.
Commissioner Graves - Oh,
Commissioner Simpson - Is that the 12th? That will be on first readin
the 12th, and also we are talking about several hundred thousand dollars of
improvements coming up relocating ball diamonds not only in Lower Indian Rock,
but expanding the Schilling complex. That will be addressed as well. Have you
prioritized recommendations as far as additions to or improvements of existing
parks as opposed to acquisition of land for new parks?
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Sharon Denton - Oh, I don't think we have really gotten into that,
such as, we have taken the position that the City do this, this and this, I
think in looking at the community survey that we did, and the results of our
members discussions, I think that we feel that South Salina is really kind of
short on parks, so this is a need, but according to the community survey I think
that if we don't clean up the rest rooms and get some more rest rooms in the
parks we have there is going to be general mayhem, so I really think we need
some things on both ends and both sides of this question.
Commissioner Weisgerber - We do have one park we haven't developed.
That we have got the property for if we could just get that laid out and started.
Mr. Olson - I would like to make a comment here. Sheri, you dwelled
on the rest rooms a couple of times. Here is the question. I feel the park
facilities in Salina are very good, good, and average, below average and poor.
Out of 400 surveys that were sent out, the 396 responses, there is 21 that said
they were below average or poor.
Sharon Denton - Yeah, but I don't think anyone said they were good or
very good did they?
Mr. Olson - 64 said they were very good, 142 good, and 129 average.
Sharon Denton - On rest rooms?
Mr. Olson - No, I am getting off of the subject, other, you are talking
about rest rooms, I am talking about park facilities. And the quality of park
and facility maintenance there was only 18 that rated that below average or
poor.
Sharon Denton - No, I think that we have some lovely parks. I think
Oakdale and Sunset, particularly, are beautiful parks and I think they are very,
very noted in the surrounding areas and I think people use them heavily. I
think that the problem is that there is just not enough of Oakdale and Sunset to
go around for the 40,000 people plus ...
Mr. Olson - ...I felt as though your report was somewhat critical of
the administration in the park department under my jurisdiction and I would
simply, I read this report this morning and looked at some of these tabulations
and I felt real good and now you are taking a little air out of me because it
would seem to me that your report was very derog.., rather derogatory, or approac
the derogatory that we needed to change or we needed this or we needed something
else that the city or the administration just hasn't done its job.
Sharon Denton - I think we are concerned maybe in the first instance
with getting somebody in the parks department, getting a job description for the
park director.
Mr. Olson - We have that. We have a job description for every job in
the city, yes.
Sharon Denton - Okay, does this job description require that the
person that fills that job have a degree in park management or experience in
this area?
Mr. Olson - No, but we do happen to have three on the payroll.
Sharon Denton - Well, the concern that we had is that at least the
present director, I believe, has a college education, but not in parks management
and we felt like that it was important to get somebody not only that knows about
horticulture, and knows about landscaping, but someone who knows a little bit
about administering a whole system and drawing up long term acquisition and
development plans, somebody really skilled in park management, and we did find
this a deficiency in the department.
no
Mr. Olson - Well, we do have three horticulture or agricultural graduat
on the payroll, two of whom I believe I am correct in saying this, do have
design work, I don't know that any in practical experience, one possibly and we
are certainly not bashful in calling upon Kansas State, and other technical
people and have had wonderful cooperation and not solely for the operation and
maintenance of the golf course, where we did use them quite extensively in the
care of the greens, management of the greens and fairways initially, but even
since and after we have, you know, the course has been brought in and throughout
the parks I don't know how in depth your study went, I think if you wanted to do
a little additional on the side as to what cooperation we have received from K
State and what has been done, it has been quite a bit.
Sharon Denton - We still, I think, feel though that day-to-day manageme
capital improvements programs, this sort of thing, requires someone with park
management skills which is different and separate from landscape design or
horticulture, and we do find, or our study found, that this was a lack, that we
felt the park superintendent should have these management skills.
Commissioner Graves - It is interesting in your report that the subject
of an indoor ice rink comes up every now and then. I had never really thought
of that, but that is, of course the South Salina park with an indoor pool is
really, and tennis courts, and bike trails. I went through it today, but indoor
ice rink came up quite a few times. I think you have done a marvelous job.
Commissioner Geis - Back to the topic that was being discussed here,
support the League's position on that; and the rest rooms in particular at
budget time I brought that item up and met with no success on it; but I appreciat(
the League's interest in this and I would hope that we could take some immediate
action on it, rather than stalling with other studies and things, and ..
Mayor Duckers - Dan, what do you mean, you brought it up at budget
time about the rest rooms?
Commissioner Geis - You remember when we were talking about the budget,I
well I happened to have my copy of the budget out today on another matter, and I
had my note in there to ask about the rest rooms, because when we were having
our workshop session I asked about the quality of the rest rooms and I remember
the exchange was that they were in good condition and in good repair, and that
somebody could come in and clean them and half an hour later they would be a
mess, and I indicated that I heard that they were not adequate and the comments
were not, you know we just went on to something else. And I don't remember that
we, what the money was allocated, I don't think we put any additional funds into
any of those areas other than we are buying a 5" tree spade, I think we went
into that on the discussion, but I was informed of the rest room facility problem
at that time, and you know it wasn't that big of a deal because I didn't go any
further with it.
Mayor Duckers - I think probably part of it what, when you go and
check, because I happen to be involved with North Salina Businessmen's Associati
about about a year or so ago, and this issue came up and someone was designated
to go check them and report back at the next meeting. He got there right after
they were cleaned and came back and said they were immaculate. I was told that
the one at the municipal golf course was in poor repair, were you with me Jerry,
someone was with me.
Commissioner Simpson - When do I get out to play golf?
Mayor Duckers - We went out there this Spring some time to check, had
a report about the greens or something, and checked the bathrooms and they were
immaculate. I think it is just ...
Commissioner Geis - (unintelligible) has been checking them on the
turnpike (unintelligible)
Commissioner Graves - Shall we all go tonight?
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Commissioner Geis - Yeah, select your favorite rest room, but really
am afraid that if we order another study, what we are going to get is a dusted
off version of what these people have done and I would like to just see us go
ahead with considering, at least seriously, the idea of establishing a park
board.
Commissioner Graves - Wouldn't you like to read what they say first?
would sort of like to read it, see what we are endorsing first, and I have
great faith in it, but I would like to read it through.
Mayor Duckers - I am not really sure at this point what a park board
will do, other than create another buffer between the administration and the
department head, and I am not sure whether that is good or bad, I would like to
know what the plusses and minuses are, and I certainly think I would like to
hear some feed back from our administrator to see what he feels about it.
Commissioner Graves - Of course anytime you get citizens involved on
any, you know, level, I think that it is a plus. People who are the constituents
in the different parts of the city, I don't know how you could possibly loose on
an advisory board, really.
Commissioner Graves, Simpson and Mayor Duckers .. (Unintelligible)
Mr. Olson - Excuse me, I wasn't taking exception to the park board or
park and recreation board or anything that. I guess what I was kind of taking
exceptions to and I wasn't defending our rest rooms as being totally clean. I
thought, I felt real good about the survey and I thought that we had some pretty
good plusses in here and I guess I was disappointed that we are dwelling on the
rest rooms, and Dan we took those two signs, closed for the season off after the
budget hearing.
Commissioner Simpson - I would, if the members of your study committee,
Sheri, would be interested, and rather than at this point in time interviewing
additional professional consulting firms to award a contract. I would like to
sit down with the Commission and people from your study group and go over more
in depth after we have had an opportunity to read this, your study. It looks
like we already have a consulting firm that has done a lot of work here.
Mr. Olson - The price is right too.
Commissioner Simpson - After we have had a chance to read through this
and sit down a mutually agreeable time and spend some time on this with you.
Sharon Denton - This would be excellent, because this is just skimming
the surface of the amount of information that we have, and we would be most
happy to share with you.
Commissioner Weisgerber - Alright, but one thing where we need either
a consultant or the person that Jerry talked about that is a park planner, and
that is getting the park planned out there east of South High School, because we
have missed a couple of years now for one reason or another, but that park is
not going to be used until it has trees growing, and we aren't going to get any
trees growing until they get planted, and they have to be planted according to
some kind of a plan. Roads can go in later, buildings can go in later, a pool
can go in later, but we need a plan for that park with where to put the trees
and get them in so they are in the process of growing. I have been trying to
get that done for a while and I hope who we hire to do this or whether it can
be done on staff, I don't know, but it does need to be done because late Winter
is the time to put in the trees.
Commissioner Simpson - Well, that could certainly be addressed and if
the charter ordinance to increase the limit is coming up on the l2th that could
be started at that time and then, you know, in consultation with the League and
sit down and hire either ...
Mr. Olson - ... You will take, the ordinance will be on reading twice
then 61 days. Two readings, plus 61 days.
Commissioner Simpson - Funds would then be available. It would take
that long for a firm to sit down and draw out a comprehensive plan for that
area, I would assume anyway.
Commissioner Graves - I'll bet that ends up being our number one
priority, is the park in South Salina. We can get going on that right away.
Commissioner Simpson - Well the land is available.
Mr. Olson - Well, I think it has been.
Commissioner Weisgerber - It is the same size as Sunset, and it isn't
that complicated, but there have been reasons in the past why it didn't get
done, but we sure need to get it done this Winter so that plan is there and the
trees can be planted.
Commissioner Geis - Well, won't that tree spade enable us to move some
of those trees ... (unintelligible) Was that in the form of a motion?
Commissioner Graves - I move that we accept the report from the
League of Women Voters with deep gratitude for what women power can do.
second it.
Commissioner Simpson - If you want to make that person power, I'll
(Chatter)
Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
Mayor Duckers thanked Sharon Denton and the members of the League of
Women Voters for their report.
COMMISSION AGENDA
A MOTION was made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner
Geis to add appointments to boards and commissions, the awarding of contracts
for architectural services for Carver Center and Centennial Center, and a status
report of water improvements to the agenda for consideration. Ayes: (5). Nays:
(0). Motion carried.
The Mayor, with the approval of the Board of Commissioners, made the
following improvements:
Board of Electrical Examiners
Bruce Broce, Electrical Contractor, appointed to succeed John Salmans,
for a 2 year term to July 24, 1979
Carl Gordon, Master Electrician, appointed to suceed John Wickersham,
for a 2 year term to July 24, 1979
A MOTION was made by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner
Graves to award the contract for the design of the Carver Center recreational
facility be awarded to Architectural Services Plus. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0).
Motion carried.
A MOTION was made by Commissioner Simpson, seconded by Commissioner
Geis to award the contract for the design of Centennial Center be awarded to
John Shaver, Shaver Partnership. Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried.
COMMISSIONER SIMPSON asked the City Engineer for a status report on
the eight proposed improvements to be constructed from the proceeds of the 1977
$3,000,000 bond issue.
Mr. Boyer, City Engineer, reported plans and specifications will be
filed in about two weeks for the improvements south of Crawford, and approximately
one month after that plans and specifications can be filed for improvements from
Crawford to the Water Treatment Plant, and then by the end of November, plans and
specifications can be filed for improvements in the north part of Salina.
Commissioner Simpson and Mayor Duckers thanked the City Engineer for
his report.
The Commissioners did not bring any other item to the floor for
discussion.
A MOTION was made by Commissioner Geis, seconded by Commissioner
Simpson that the Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners be adjourned.
Ayes: (5). Nays: (0). Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 5:52 P.M.
,7 / -
M. E. Abbott, Acting City Clerk
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